For the 24th year, the art of storytelling will take center stage during the Southern Order of Storytellers presentation of Tellabration. The presentation will feature three engaging storytellers — Tersi Bendiburg, Chetter Galloway and Cynthia Watts — who all present their stories in unique and entertaining ways. The event will be emceed by Jonah McDonald, a seasoned storyteller himself who founded the Stories Squared series in Decatur.

Tellabration will be on one day around the country, and other parts of the world Nov. 16. The local offering will be at The Friends School of Atlanta at 7:30 p.m., 862 S. Columbia Drive in Decatur.

According to Susan Summers, publicity coordinator of the event, it began in Connecticut in 1988, and in Japan in 1995.

“It’s kind of a spiritual bonding because the storytellers all over the world are doing performances the same time of year,” said Summers. “It bridges global culture when you hear stories and you learn about other cultures. It helps you see things in a different perspective.”

Bendiburg, a Tucker resident, has been a professional storyteller since 1992 and garners her stories from her Cuban roots. Bendiburg focuses on Latin American folktales with European, West African and indigenous influences.

“I like the fact that storytelling is a very old art form that we still use in spite of technology,” she said.

“You have individual listeners listening to a story and then it develops differently for each person that’s listening.”

Past Tellabration events have garnered a crowd size of around 150, but Summers said they would like to reach about 300 attendees this year. It is recommended for ages 10 and older.

Each storyteller will have about 25 minutes for their presentation and Bendiburg said she does not memorize any of her stories, because they are mostly personal family stories and folktales.

Admission is $10 in advance and $15 after Nov. 13.

If you go:When: Nov. 16, door open at 7 p.m., opening ceremony at 7:30 p.m.Where: The Friends School of Atlanta, 862 S. Columbia Drive, DecaturAdmission: tickets are $10 in advance, $15 after Nov. 13; performances are suitable for ages 10 and olderInformation: www.southernorderofstorytellers.org

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